If you live in a four-season climate you have probably heard that a dark roof will cut winter energy costs. It ain’t necessarily so. The oft-stated theory is that the dark roofs will absorb heat from the suns rays, heating the house and cutting down on the amount of gas, oil, or electricity needed to heat it in the winter months. With the new push for white roofs – Department of Energy Secretary and Nobel Prize winning physicist Steven Chou is a big proponent – it is time to look at this widely held belief and the harm it may actually be causing. There are a number of reasons that dark roofing materials are not as energy efficient as advertised. First, hot air always rises. Thus, whatever heat is transmitted into the attic or into living areas from a dark roof will stay very...(read more)

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